(CNN) – Ron Paul dinged rival Rick Santorum Monday for being a "very liberal" candidate, saying the former Pennsylvania senator and staunch social conservative voted for too much spending during his time in Congress.

Speaking to CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash before a campaign event with his son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the White House hopeful said his rival had taken positions counter to true conservative ideas.

"I mean, have you looked at his record? Go look at his record," Paul said.

He continued: "He spends too much money. He wasn't leading the charge to slash the budgets and vote against big government."

Rand Paul added that Santorum's vote history proved he wasn't a true conservative.

"He voted to double the size of the Department of Education," Rand Paul said. "He voted to expand Medicare and add free drugs for senior citizens and he has voted for foreign aid. Those are not conservative principles. Seventy-seven percent of the American people are opposed to foreign aid and Rick Santorum has voted for it every time it's come down."

Paul also spoke in some of the strongest terms to date about the potential of a third-party bid should he fail to secure the GOP nomination.

"I have no plans in doing that," Paul said. "Tomorrow is a big day. We'll see what happens but I have no intention of doing that, no plans and no desire."

How can so many people not recognize their own self-interest? No republican candidate will make your life or this nation's life better. Have a cup of coffee and wake up!

January 2, 2012 07:33 pm at 7:33 pm |

Gerald

Even if he loses the political battle, Ron Paul wins the battle of ideas. I'd love to see him debate Obama one on one.

January 2, 2012 07:42 pm at 7:42 pm |

Ambrose Smith

The GOP candidates are acting like a pack of rabid dogs! Obama cool as ice. OBAMA 20121

January 2, 2012 10:14 pm at 10:14 pm |

RP for Pres 2012

People who don't like RP basically depend on the gov't for their daily bread.

January 2, 2012 10:17 pm at 10:17 pm |

Maeve

Rick Santorum is not a Liberal. Don't blame the lLberals for this "idiot". "Mr. Earmark" Santorum is clearly a Conservative who cares little for the needs of the average American. Read his record and remember the landslide against him when he lost his last election and why that happened. Ricky needs to find a real job. Maybe he can build some "Bridges to Nowhere (like the one he voted for).

January 2, 2012 10:37 pm at 10:37 pm |

Will

Our problems with Iran did not begin with their Islamic revolution in 1979, but when we overthrew their democratically elected leader who was trying to stop foreign nations from pilfering their oil. We installed the Shah in 1953 who ruled like a hated dictator. Our memories don't go back that far, but Iranians memories do. Now we have a problem. So do we try peace and diplomacy, or spend trillions more on arms, and threaten an invasion ala Iraq? Well, it is a moot point, and the argument has already been won. We are BROKE and can no longer afford to spend one trillion a year on "defense". In fact, the game will be over when China comes to their senses and doesn't loan us any more trillions.

January 3, 2012 03:11 am at 3:11 am |

Gabe

Santorum calls himself a true evangelical and talks about Religion all the time, at the same time he wants to go and kill all muslims. Only an atheist would vote and love War.

January 3, 2012 03:30 am at 3:30 am |

Andy

Looks like people are reading wrong...

"Ron Paul said, Sanatorium, is a "liberal" when it comes to spending."

He is liberal when it comes to spending. He voted to up the debt ceiling. That is opposite of fiscal conservatism.

Funny how people blame Paul for his words when in reality they are to blame for not knowing the full extent of ideas and terms.

January 3, 2012 04:58 am at 4:58 am |

idb

And Ron Paul slammed another reporter with facts instead of fiction. No wonder the press doesn't like him.